Secrets of Living the Good Life–For Less!

Taking your Starbucks receipt for a morning beverage purchase and getting a cold drink after 2 p.m. for $2.50 used to be one of the signs of the start of summer at the coffee giant, but now it’s also a sign that….it’s really #@!%ing hot out, I guess.

That’s because, starting today, the Treat Receipt program is back at participating Starbucks cafes. As always, all you need to do is buy a drink in the morning, keep your receipt and return to the store after 2 p.m. to get your discounted grande-sized cold drink for just $2.50.

The only difference now is that the price has gone from its traditional $2 to $2.50.

I guess that’s the price of bringing it back months after you’ve said goodbye.

The special runs from today through August 9th. If you’re a My Starbucks Rewards Member, the special runs an extra week.

Sometimes research and development can be boring as all get out, but not today, thanks to the folks at Queen Anne’s high end chocolate shop, Chocolopolis.

They’re always hard at work looking for new tastes to bring to you, the chocolate buying public. And today, as part of that R&D effort and also part celebration of the store’s anniversary, Chocolopolis is having an event where you can come and taste some of its latest prototypes and give your opinion.

Yes, I understand, just the sound of the word prototype sounds boring…or at least a little too science-y for a Saturday, but hey, it’s chocolate, it’s free and the event runs from 1 to 3. So what have you got to lose?

Free tea and crumpets for kids on a summer Sunday. What a way to spend an afternoon.

Apparently, the Queen Bee Cafe at 2200 E Madison does this once a month, but this is the first the CB has heard of it. STill, that’s no reason you should hold it against him.

The event runs from 2 to 4 p.m. and is good for kids ranging in age from preschool on up through middle school. There’s no word on what parents might have to pay if they want to join the fun, but you can find the menu on the website.

The free outdoor dance program, Dancing Til Dusk, has returned to Westlake Park and venues throughout the city with free dance lessons followed by free dancing under the stars to live music.

Tonight’s edition will feature Salsa dancing accompanied by Buena Brava and it will go from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Westlake Park. If salsa isn’t your thing, you’ll have more chances to dance at Westlake every Saturday with options ranging from Swing to Country and Western every Tuesday night through Aug. 18th.

Busy Tuesdays? You can also dance every Thursday from 6 to 9:30 pm through Aug. 20 at Freeway Park. Then there will be a West Coast Swing Dance at Bell Street Pier on Aug. 27th. This Thursday’s offering will be Big Band Swing accompanied by Portage Bay Big Band.

It’s free, it’s fun and it’s a great way to do something you’ve always wanted to do without paying fast talking teachers at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio.

You can get free small Slurpees at participating 7-Eleven stores across the country from 11 am to 7 pm today. It’s one per customer while supplies last, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go to a couple of 7-Elevens in your town.

I know I will with my kids.

I hope to see you there. Just don’t get between my kids and their Slurpees.

July 11th may not be a legal holiday, but any day when you can get free Slurpees should be in my book. And Saturday is that day.

Participating 7-11s across the country are giving away free 12 ounce Slurpees from 11 am to 7 pm. Why not 7 am to 11 pm, I’m not sure, but it doesn’t matter to me. It’s one per customer, but there are lots of 7-11s in a city the size of Seattle and, don’t be surprised if you see me and my kids at your nieghborhood 7-11 participating in our annual Slurpee Steeplechase.

Oh thank heaven.

One last note, in case you didn’t know it, 7-11 is now using July 11th as a kick off for a week of freebies, according to Forbes Magazine. Every day from July 12th through 18th, shoppers can take advantage of offers for up to $2 in free food or drink provided that they belong to the 7Rewards program and have downloaded the mobile app to their smart phone.